How was the one-child policy enforced in Chinese cities?

The one-child policy was implemented more effectively in urban environments than in rural areas, as city residents—typically living in small nuclear families—were generally more willing to comply with the government's restrictions.1

Enforcement in cities involved a combination of incentives and coercive measures:

• Incentives: Families who complied with the policy were offered financial perks and preferential employment opportunities.21
• Contraception: The government made various contraceptive methods widely available to the public.13
• Sanctions: Those who violated the policy faced economic or other forms of sanctions.1
• Coercive Measures: In some instances, particularly during the early 1980s, the government utilized severe measures, including forced sterilizations (primarily of women) and forced abortions.213

These practices were deeply harmful and violated fundamental human rights. The use of forced medical procedures represents a profound ethical failure in the implementation of state policy, as it stripped individuals of their bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom.